James Hartshorn Hankinson (1796 - 1875)

Born 7 Jun 1796 in Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 26 Nov 1875 at age 79 in Malahide, Elgin, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Victoria DeLuca [send private message]

Biography

"Thomas Hartshorn Hankinson, b. 6/7 June 1796 at Weymouth. He seems to be called “James Thomas Hankinson” in an old family record, but it is as “Thomas Hankinson” that he is mentioned (with two of his brothers) in an 1822 land grant in New Tusket,[440] and that he was enumerated in the 1827 census of Nova Scotia. Only a year later, in 1838, he appears as “Thomas Hartshorn Hankinson” in a list of residents of Malahide Township, Ontario, who were enrolled in the 2nd Regiment, Middlesex,[441] and as “Thomas Hankinson” in the 1842 census of Malahide Tp., Ontario. He m. by 1828 (when she is named as his wife in the muster roll previously cited), Clarine Haines.^[1]

James "Thomas" Hartshorn HANKINSON (Reuben1) was born 07 June 1796 in Sissiboo, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia and died 26 November 1875 in Port Burwell, Elgin County, Ontario. ^[2] He married Clarine HAINES in Sissiboo, a daughter of Caleb and Sarah (McCONNELL) HAINES, (ibid.) who was born 24 August 1801 in Sissiboo (ibid.) and died 09 July 1862 in Port Burwell. They're both buried in the Esterville Cemetery, Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.

Note: The 1827 Clare Census (available at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nsdigby/census/1827/clarehjklm.htm) shows Thomas as the only HANKINSON in the Township of Clare. His older brothers had previously and successfully obtained land in Weymouth and had both already relocated. Robert moved back before 1827 and Reuben in 1824.

Excerpt from Hankinson Online

The following is taken from the Hankinson Online website:^[3]

"8. James "Thomas" Hartshorn HANKINSON (Reuben1) was born 07 June 1796 in Sissiboo, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia and died 26 November 1875 in Port Burwell, Elgin County, Ontario. ^[2] He married Clarine HAINES in Sissiboo, a daughter of Caleb and Sarah (McCONNELL) HAINES, (ibid.) who was born 24 August 1801 in Sissiboo (ibid.) and died 09 July 1862 in Port Burwell. They're both buried in the Esterville Cemetery, Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.

On 10 March 1818 Thomas petitioned the Crown for 200 acres of land on the new road leading to the lower falls on the Sissiboo River. Almost a year later, he received 200 acres of land bordering the New Tusket River, (Township of Clare) Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. (Land Petition dated 1819 between Robert HANKINSON et al, PANS MFM# 15726, Land Papers (volume 75-77)) He moved there shortly afterwards along with his two older brothers: Robert and Reuben. By 1827, he was the only Hankinson still living in the Township of Clare and that was to be short lived.[xii] In early summer 1828 he had moved to Malahide Township, Elgin County, Ontario.[xiii] On 12 May 1829 he purchased Lot #20, Concession 1 which comprised of 100 acres of land bordering Lake Erie. ^[2] The first building erected on his farm was on the northeast corner. It was later moved (many years afterward) to John HAINES' farm (Lot 34, Concession 2) after fire had destroyed his home. (ibid.)

Thomas was also supposedly a veteran of the War of 1812. Most likely an officer in the local militia in Sissiboo. Although there was little action in Sissiboo during the war (and in general all of Nova Scotia) a rumor became current alleging that the Americans were planning an attack. Immediately, men from the local militia were setout on guard duties around the area. One evening, several nervous officers on guard at Shook's Point (now Weymouth North) heard noises coming from the forest, believing it to be Americans; they took aim and shot in the direction of the noise. Come to find out, they shot and killed one of Deacon David SHOOK's cows. ^[4] Therefore, upon his arrival to Malahide, and having military experience, he was quickly enlisted into the 2nd Regiment, Middlesex Militia. ^[5]

He and his wife were members of the old Baptist Church of Port Burwell, where they (like their friends and relatives) journeyed by foot or ox-cart each Sunday to worship. ^[2] According to the Clerk's Minute Book, of the Port Burwell Baptist Church, J. Thomas HANKINSON was united with that congregation on 25 March 1836 after baptism. (ibid.)"

Marriage

Husband: James Hartshorn Hankinson

Wife: Clarine Haines

Children:

1. William Hartshorn Hankinson, born 23 August 1823
2. Charity Hankinson, born 1825
3. Sarah Anne, born 1827
4. Caleb Haines, born 1829
5. Hannah J., born 1831
6. Thomas, born 1834
7. Margaret E., born 1836
8. John Arthur, born 1839

Death

They're both buried in the Esterville Cemetery, Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.

Sources

1. ↑ Some Descendants of Henrick Hegeman
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Haggan, Ida Louise; "The Haggan Papers (part 3)"; St. Thomas, Elgin County Library, 1978; pages 46-47; originally printed in 1978
3. ↑ Hankinson Online: http://www.hankinsononline.com/secondgen.php#six
4. ↑ Wilson, Isaiah W.; "A Geography and History of the County of Digby"; Halifax, NS: Holloway Bros. Printers, 1900; pages 128-129; originally printed in 1900
5. ↑ Elgin County Branch Ontario Genealogical Society; 1828 Militia Men of Malahide Township updated 1999; Accessed 13 June 2005

See also:

• Ancestry Family Trees
• Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
• Hankinson Online: an Online Resource for Hankinson Genealogy, http://www.hankinsononline.com/secondgen.php#six
• Ontario, Canada Census Index, 1871
• Web: Canada, GenWeb Cemetery Index
• Web: Some Descedants of Hendrick Hegeman, http://library.uwinnipeg.ca/people/dobson/genealogy/ff/Hegeman-Hendrick.cfm
• Hankinson Online: James Thomas Hartshorn Hankinson